ETUC welcomes the Council’s decision to increase development aid
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the Council’s decision to increase EU Member States’ contribution to development aid to 0.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2015. This excellent initiative is also the work of EU Commissioner Louis Michel and the Commission.
ETUC hopes this aid will be allocated to priority social objectives: education, health, social rights, decent work, social protection, social dialogue, particularly as part of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
During a recent meeting with Louis Michel (18 May), an ETUC delegation, led by General Secretary John Monks, stressed the need for a significant increase in the number of EPAs and for greater efforts to be made in the fight against poverty. ETUC believes that aid must be provided through effective instruments (decent work and social protection) and through the responsible involvement of workers’ representatives from all sectors in a process of economic and social development.
Commissioner Michel had assured ETUC that he was keen to see trade unions involved, particularly in the implementation of the Cotonou agreement.
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